Ibom Air to launch international flights in April 2026 – Keyamo

Ibom Air will commence international flight operations in April 2026, following the near completion of upgrade works at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this on Wednesday.

Keyamo spoke after inspecting facilities at the airport alongside Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, and holding meetings with agencies involved in international airport operations.

The minister said preparations at the airport were ahead of schedule, noting that only minor gaps remained to be addressed. He expressed satisfaction with the quality of facilities and the level of readiness achieved so far.

According to him, representatives of key agencies, including Customs, Quarantine Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service, NDLEA, Police, DSS, NEMA and other aviation authorities, participated in a closed-door meeting to assess the airport’s preparedness.

“From all we have heard, Akwa Ibom State is ahead of the planned schedule. We initially thought the gaps would be many, but they are very minimal. The state has moved ahead of schedule towards becoming a full-fledged international airport,” Keyamo said.

He listed facilities inspected to include a newly built international terminal and a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, which he described as a critical requirement for international airport operations.

“This MRO facility ensures that international airlines operating here have a place to carry out routine checks before departing. It is one of the standard requirements for any international airport,” he added.

In his remarks, Governor Eno thanked the minister for his commitment to ensuring that aviation infrastructure is effectively utilised to drive national economic growth.

The governor also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the upgrade of the Victor Attah International Airport to international status and for releasing statutory funds for its development.

Eno further acknowledged the efforts of past administrations in the state, noting that their groundwork contributed significantly to the progress recorded so far.